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ZIP code

96125

in Sierra City, CaliforniaPopulation 263

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

49.45/ 100

Ranked #17,006 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 47%)

Ranked #1,105 of 1,719 California ZIPs (bottom 36%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

What defines this ZIP

Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.

PFAS in drinking water

2.2%

in the bottom 0.07% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.

A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.

Full methodology ›

Park land

70.4%

in the top 1.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST96th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.

Full methodology ›

Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance

4.9%

in the top 1.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST87th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.

Full methodology ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the bottom 1.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US1st
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.

Full methodology ›

Homeownership rate

100%

at the national maximum

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility

24.4 mi

in the top 3.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST97th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.

Full methodology ›

Tree cover

84.6%

in the top 3.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.

Full methodology ›

Home broadband subscription

65%

in the bottom 4.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST2nd
US4th
Definition & source ›

The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Full methodology ›

Humid extreme heat

7.9 days/year

in the bottom 5.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST12th
US5th
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.

Full methodology ›

Coronary heart disease

10.2%

in the top 8.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.

Full methodology ›

The read

In overall standing, Sierra City, California (ZIP 96125) comes out in the bottom 47% nationally (17,006th) and the bottom 36% of California (1,105th).

continue reading

The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: modeled fine-particle stands in the top 1.1% nationally, and home broadband subscription lands in the bottom 4.1% nationally. On the brighter side, modeled pfas is in the bottom 0.07% nationally, park land resides in the top 1.1% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden rests in the bottom 1.2% nationally. Homeownership lies at the national maximum, and distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits in the top 3.2% nationally. Modeled tree cover settles in the top 3.2% nationally, and humid heat registers in the bottom 5.1% nationally. Unemployment stands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs.

Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 96103, just across the boundary.

What’s driving this score

Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Risk Behavior

healthier than 75%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 98%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 52%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 42%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 57%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 43%

8%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 29%

21%

Disability

healthier than 22%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 36%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 68%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 76%

13%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 97%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 52%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 52%

11%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 10%

21%

Mental Health

healthier than 33%

8%

Disability

healthier than 22%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 23%

5%

“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured

Evidence

Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.

Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults32.0%28.5–35.8
High blood pressure among adults41.1%36.8–45.6
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults11.1%10.0–12.3
Current asthma among adults10.4%9.2–11.8
Coronary heart disease among adults10.2%9.0–11.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.6%8.0–11.3
Depression among adults23.4%20.0–27.2
Diagnosed diabetes among adults15.1%13.1–17.4
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened41.5%37.0–46.2
Obesity among adults32.0%24.5–40.6
Stroke among adults5.0%4.4–5.6
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years8.5%6.8–10.5
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.4%5.8–9.3
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure78.6%75.6–81.4
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults75.9%72.0–79.4
Cholesterol screening among adults87.0%85.0–88.8
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years68.6%63.3–73.4
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults65.7%62.1–69.2
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years74.9%66.6–81.8
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults14.3%11.7–17.2
Current cigarette smoking among adults14.4%11.7–17.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults26.6%21.8–31.8
Short sleep duration among adults32.0%25.5–39.1
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults25.7%22.0–29.6
Frequent mental distress among adults17.4%15.2–19.7
Frequent physical distress among adults17.0%14.7–19.4
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults15.8%13.6–18.1
Any disability among adults37.9%32.9–43.2
Hearing disability among adults10.2%8.9–11.5
Independent living disability among adults10.1%8.7–11.6
Mobility disability among adults19.7%16.8–22.7
Self-care disability among adults5.2%4.5–6.0
Vision disability among adults6.5%5.7–7.4
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults24.0%20.3–28.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults15.3%12.4–18.7
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults16.3%13.3–19.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults11.3%9.4–13.6
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults8.4%7.2–9.9
Loneliness among adults32.9%27.8–39.2
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.8%5.8–8.1
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)CA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate3.0%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36410.6% (4.1–24.9%) n=1,714
Uninsured 18–640.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2867.7% (1.7–17.9%) n=1,704
No HS diploma (25+)0.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5059.8% (1.4–30.9%) n=1,729
Bachelor's or higher (25+)36.9%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50531.3% (9.9–68.2%) n=1,729
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2746.1% (0.8–12.0%) n=1,714
Households without a vehicle4.9%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.5% (0.0–12.2%) n=1,708
Broadband subscription65.0%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32293.4% (82.1–98.4%) n=1,708
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)14.1%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32238.6% (24.4–50.5%) n=1,708
Homeownership rate100.0%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32264.1% (31.9–86.4%) n=1,708
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3224.8% (0.0–15.9%) n=1,708
Foreign-born population0.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,55318.9% (3.0–40.4%) n=1,730
Single-parent households100.0%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08748.4% (35.1–72.3%) n=1,692
Population 65+78.3%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55317.0% (9.7–35.7%) n=1,730
Median age72.4 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29240.1 yr (31.8–57.0) n=1,712
Median household income$95,554$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$93,448 ($54,188–$159,562) n=1,584
Median home value$378,200$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$659,800 ($300,520–$1,493,340) n=1,593
Median gross rent—$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$1,912 ($1,113–$2,923) n=1,461
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)CA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth84.9 yr ± 3.3278.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30880.5 yr (76.7–83.8) n=1,665

About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 3.32 years of 84.9, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

More ZIPs to explore ▾

How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured